Customer Rating:  
Summary: good buy
Comment: Bought this CD set for my 11-year-old son who's been taking classical guitar lessons for 3 years, just for some broader exposure. He likes it, I like it. It's got quite a few pieces that sound challenging to him and that he'd like to try, so it's doing its intended job.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Essential Guitar: 33 Guitar Masterpieces
Comment: Although entitled "Guitar Masterpieces" the music is MOSTLY big band with some guitar lead. This CD does not feature the guitar. Very disappointing.....
Customer Rating:
Summary: Most amazing, calming collection of classic guitar music around!
Comment: This has been one of my favorite CD's for a long time. So much so, I bought a copy for my new boyfriend [I was afraid he might want to borrow my copy and not give it back ;-) ]
And the most special little nugget on this CD is the Theme from the Deer Hunter. This nearly brings me to tears every time I hear it. So moving and powerful.
If you enjoy classical guitar, You will love this collection.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent mix, good performances
Comment: While I always prefer CDs featuring a few composers, having a focus, this CD does a great job at going from all the medley of essential guitar pieces. It's got all the ones I'd like to have, in that sense "Essential" is correct. The recordings are good, I knew about half/two thirds of the pieces, and I'm not always wowed but never disappointed by the performances, in some cases very pleasantly surprised, esp. those by Eduardo Fernandez, Nicola Hall, and Pepe Romero. A discovery: the Estudio Brilliante, by Allard (end of CD2). I really like to put this CD in the background at work (on iPod), at home. My wife is a professional musician (violin) and cringes at bad performances and isn't interested in average usually, so it's telling that she also likes this CD. In fact, it's soothing and relaxing enough that it's actually put her to sleep once! Overall, I really like two thirds of the pieces on this CD, the other ones are nice enough (I'll play through, but won't select them expressly), and there are a few great ones. And the price is great. What's not to like?
Customer Rating:
Summary: Two-and-a-half hours of bliss
Comment: This may be the best money I've ever spent. I got 2-1/2 hours of bliss for less than what I'd usually pay for one CD -- and you know how it is with music. You buy an album because of a song or two that you love, and you find that you like maybe half the songs on it. There's not a single selection in this one that I would've left out. It includes Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, performed by Pepe Romero on the guitar with the Acadamy of St. Martin in the Fields. I needed to replace my old LP recording of that. But I also get 30 other classical compositions and traditional Spanish pieces, each special in its own way.
Have you ever heard music that you wanted to last forever, maybe even to dive inside and live there for a while, immersing yourself in sound? That's how I feel about this collection. The only problem I have with it is that I bought it thinking it might be nice to listen to while I write. Not so. It's terrible for that. I'll sit with my hands poised above the laptop keyboard, assuring myself I'll get some work done while I listen. The music takes hold and carries me away.
I'm not expert at describing this or any type of music. I just know what I love. You might too, if you enjoy classical or Spanish guitar -- unless you have absurd expectations about combining listening with work.
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